Revived Hastings Pier in London wins the 2017 RIBA Stirling Prize

The structure's phoenix-rising-out-of-the-ashes story is inspiring.

Hastings Pier was revived by London-based architecture firm dRMM after being ravaged in a fire in 2010

Hastings Pier in London has quite a success story. After being ravaged by a devastating fire in 2010, the firm responsible for its revival, dRMM, has been awarded the 2017 RIBA Stirling Prize—Britain’s top architecture prize.

When it was inaugurated 145 years ago by the Earl of Granville in 1872, Hastings Pier epitomised classic Victoriana | Photo courtesy: RIBA/PA

When it was inaugurated 145 years ago by the Earl of Granville in 1872, Hastings Pier was an elaborate confection. The pier epitomised classic Victoriana. Designed by Eugenius Birch, the structure was studded with twinkling lights, and crowned with a Moorish pavilion.

The design of the new and improved Hastings Pier is reminiscent of Malaparte, a 1930s villa in Capri that architects rave about

In 2010, Hastings Pier was ravaged by a devastating fire. After the Hastings Pier Charity took over the structure, dRMM won a design competition to bring the pier back to life. This kick-started a seven-year collaboration, along with a crowdfunding campaign that raised GBP 590,000 of the total GBP 14.2m renovation cost. The rest of the capital came from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

A small pavilion houses a cafe and community space

The design of the new and improved Hastings Pier is reminiscent of Malaparte, a 1930s villa in Capri that architects rave about. The attention to detail is similar. The pier is ensconced in timber planks that have been reclaimed from the original deck that was destroyed in the fire. Only now, it has been given a zigzag pattern. The firm also constructed a small pavilion that houses a cafe and community space.

An aerial view of the Sterling Prize winning structure Hastings Pier

Not only did the pier win the judges’ votes, it also won the public vote.

Here are the other structures that made the shortlist for the 2017 RIBA Stirling Prize: